Sheriff's Deputy Accused of Fondling Teen, Police Say

Published: Saturday, August 24, 2013 at 3:49 p.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, August 25, 2013 at 8:30 a.m.

BARTOW | A 40-year-old Polk County sheriff's deputy accused of fondling a 17-year-old girl against her will was arrested Friday by Bartow police.

Deputy Mark Hicks, a Polk County Sheriff's Office patrol deputy, attempted suicide after being arrested and is now in the Polk County Jail.

PCSO Capt. Loyd Stewart obtained Hicks' resignation on Friday.

According to the arrest report, the arrest stemmed from an incident that happened about two weeks ago.

On or about Aug. 7, Hicks visited the girl at her house. He began hugging and kissing her without consent, then fondled her with his hand over her clothes, according to the report. After the girl separated herself from him, Hicks left.

During the next day, Hicks used a cellphone to contact the girl via text message and phone calls.

He also sent her a picture of his exposed lower body and requested she send him one back, the report said.

Investigators obtained the girl's phone and found contact between the two over the previous month. “I love u and ur so beautiful,” he said to her in one text message, according to the arrest report. He also indicated his desire to “be with her.” They had known each other for several years, but their exact relationship was not released. Her name also remained confidential.

About 5:30 p.m. Friday, Hicks asked the girl over the phone to delete the photos he had sent her. After being told the girl's parents had already seen the photos, Hicks' voice changed to a “panicked tone,” the report said. He talked about going to jail before asking the girl to retrieve the phone and delete all photos and messages he sent her.

At 5:50 p.m., Bartow police detectives arrived at Hicks' house, where they asked to interview him at the police department. He agreed and admitted to kissing and hugging the girl and sending lewd messages to her.

Stewart, Hicks' supervisor, then arrived at the police department in response. Hicks was placed in a holding cell as the arrest report was finished and his personal property was collected and inventoried.

“Knowing there would be another cell check in 10 minutes,” the Sheriff's Office said in a release, “Hicks quickly took the waistband from his boxer shorts and fashioned a noose which he tied to the cell door.”

Bartow police Sgt. David Wyant and Stewart found Hicks after he had attempted to hang himself.

Stewart performed CPR and Hicks was taken to Bartow Regional Medical Center, where he was medically cleared.

Bartow police are charging the former deputy with three felonies: soliciting a minor to commit a lewd act, exposing a minor to harmful material, and tampering with evidence. He also faces a misdemeanor charge of battery.

Hicks worked for the Sheriff's Office for six years and was being paid $41,000 a year before his resignation.

He is not currently married, according to the arrest report, but he has two children.

Hicks is in the crisis stabilization unit at the Polk County Jail.

[ Miles Parks can be reached at miles.parks@theledger.com or 863-802-7516. ]

<p>BARTOW | A 40-year-old Polk County sheriff's deputy accused of fondling a 17-year-old girl against her will was arrested Friday by Bartow police.</p><p>Deputy Mark Hicks, a Polk County Sheriff's Office patrol deputy, attempted suicide after being arrested and is now in the Polk County Jail.</p><p>PCSO Capt. Loyd Stewart obtained Hicks' resignation on Friday.</p><p>According to the arrest report, the arrest stemmed from an incident that happened about two weeks ago.</p><p>On or about Aug. 7, Hicks visited the girl at her house. He began hugging and kissing her without consent, then fondled her with his hand over her clothes, according to the report. After the girl separated herself from him, Hicks left.</p><p>During the next day, Hicks used a cellphone to contact the girl via text message and phone calls.</p><p>He also sent her a picture of his exposed lower body and requested she send him one back, the report said.</p><p>Investigators obtained the girl's phone and found contact between the two over the previous month. “I love u and ur so beautiful,” he said to her in one text message, according to the arrest report. He also indicated his desire to “be with her.” They had known each other for several years, but their exact relationship was not released. Her name also remained confidential.</p><p>About 5:30 p.m. Friday, Hicks asked the girl over the phone to delete the photos he had sent her. After being told the girl's parents had already seen the photos, Hicks' voice changed to a “panicked tone,” the report said. He talked about going to jail before asking the girl to retrieve the phone and delete all photos and messages he sent her.</p><p>At 5:50 p.m., Bartow police detectives arrived at Hicks' house, where they asked to interview him at the police department. He agreed and admitted to kissing and hugging the girl and sending lewd messages to her.</p><p>Stewart, Hicks' supervisor, then arrived at the police department in response. Hicks was placed in a holding cell as the arrest report was finished and his personal property was collected and inventoried.</p><p>“Knowing there would be another cell check in 10 minutes,” the Sheriff's Office said in a release, “Hicks quickly took the waistband from his boxer shorts and fashioned a noose which he tied to the cell door.”</p><p>Bartow police Sgt. David Wyant and Stewart found Hicks after he had attempted to hang himself.</p><p>Stewart performed CPR and Hicks was taken to Bartow Regional Medical Center, where he was medically cleared.</p><p>Bartow police are charging the former deputy with three felonies: soliciting a minor to commit a lewd act, exposing a minor to harmful material, and tampering with evidence. He also faces a misdemeanor charge of battery.</p><p>Hicks worked for the Sheriff's Office for six years and was being paid $41,000 a year before his resignation.</p><p>He is not currently married, according to the arrest report, but he has two children.</p><p>Hicks is in the crisis stabilization unit at the Polk County Jail.</p><p>[ Miles Parks can be reached at miles.parks@theledger.com or 863-802-7516. ]</p>